Malcolm Turnbull has written to state premiers and territory chief ministers asking them to agree on the design of indefinite detention laws.
Photograph: Andrew Taylor/AAP

Malcolm Turnbull has written urgently to state premiers and chief ministers asking them to agree on the design of nationally consistent laws for the indefinite detention of terrorists who pose a threat to the public at the end of their sentence.

The prime minister wants a national system to be legislated as quickly as possible, given the increase in the frequency and severity of terrorist attacks globally, particularly in western countries.

He said the legislation would enable a continuing period of imprisonment for high-risk terrorist offenders who could pose a risk if they were released.

“I have asked the attorney general to convene a meeting of all the state and territory attorneys general as soon as practicable to consider the proposed scheme and ensure legislation can be introduced quickly,” Turnbull’s letter said.

“This is a significant public safety and security issue and our governments must do all we can to protect the community from individuals posing a high risk of re-offending and/or those in need of continued rehabilitation. The guiding principles of a post-sentence preventative detention scheme would be that it cover high-risk terrorist offenders and contain appropriate procedural protections and safeguards.”

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He said the review was necessary following terrorist events in which attackers had attached themselves to the “murderous ideology” of Islamic extremism because of other problems such as addiction, antisocial behaviour and mental illness.